WELCOME HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 11

WELCOME HOME.

NEW ZEALAND'S OFFICERS.

NAVY LEAGUE LUNCHEON.

MR. MACKENZIE'S RECEPTION.

|>ROK OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

London, December 19. The captain and officers of H.M.S. New Zealand were feted in London on Tuesday. At mid-day they were entertained to lunch at the Hotel Cecil by the Navy League, and in the evening Mr. Thomas Mackenzie (on behalf of the New Zealand Government) gave a reception at the Connaught Kooms. The evening function was a great success, being attended by a distinguished assembly, representative of the New Zealand community and of the Imperial life of the City, while the arrangements for the com fort of the many guests were all that could be desired. Mr. Robert Yerburgh, M.P., as president of the Navy League, presided over the luncheon, and the company included Mr Winston Churchill, Captain and Mrs. Halsey, the Hon. T. Mackenzie and Miss Mackenzie, tho Duke of Norfolk, the Earl and Countess Halsbury, Lord and Lady Sydenham, Lord Blyth, Admiral Fremantle, and Mr. Archibald Hnrd Speaking to the toast of "The Captain, Officers and Ship's Company of P His Majesty's Ship New Zealand," Mr. Churchill said: "1 am very glad to be here to join with you in offering a welcome- home to the officers of the New Zealand on returning from a historic, cruise. 1 venture to say .that at all 'the places the iNew Zealand has visited she has left behind the same impression—the impression of one °* the great modern instruments of war of the highest efficiency, manned by officers and men who know how to use it, and who carry on in their persons the traditions of which the British Navy is the heir. She has left behind, also, an impression of that manly spirit of fair play, healthiness, and courtesy which we always regard as characteristic of our naval officers of all ranks. (Cheers.) She has left behind, in the breasts of our fellow-citizens in the different countries beyond the seas, not only memories of a pleasant and interesting visit, but an inspiration which, coming in reinforcement of the general movement all over the Empire to participate in the common defence, cannot but be of considerable value and importance. "You have spoken, Mr. President, of Captain Halsey's diplomatic ability. Although his difficulties were not those which Sir Gerard Noel, at Crete, and Admiral Burney, at Scutari, successfully surmounted, nevertheless, there was an'infinite number of occasions for making mistakes presented to him, and although talking to public gatherings is no part of the regular duties of the naval officer, Captain Halsey has acquitted himself on every occasion with the greatest distinction and skill. The gift of His Majesty's ship New Zealand by the Dominion of New Zealand, at a time of serious crisis, was one of the greatest acts of far-seeing imagination for which any modern State can claim credit. (Cheers.) This small community, far away in the recesses of the Pacific, contributed, the money out of which this magnificent ship has "been called into being, and then dedicated her, whole-heartedly, without reserve, without condition, without return, to the general service of the Imperial Navy. (Cheers.)

" Can't Yon Stay Longer." Captain Hnlsey, in his reply, gave a brief account of the cruise. At all the ports visited, he said, they were greeted with the cry, "Can't you stay longer?" And the enthusiasm was nothing short of marvellous. In South Africa the welcome received from the Boer and Britisher was equally warm. Detachments of the crew went to 'Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Bloemfontein, and at the last-named place, the centre of the Boer population, 'they were received in the same warm-hearted manner as elsewhere. There were 13 Boers in a company of 31 that breakfasted at the old residency, and they proved themselves as loyal as any Britisher. He could not possibly describe the warmth of the welcome received from New Zealand. From start to finish the people were extraordinarily enthusiastic. The Navy League was doing- a grand work for the Empire, especially among the children. The rising generation in the Dominions was beginning to realise much more than those in the Mother Country its responsibilities to the Empire. Ho had heard, such statements as "Cutting th© Painter." His voyage round the Empire had taught him that there was no such desire. The loyalty of the Dominions was second to nothing. Although loyalty at Home was doubtless just as strong, it was certainly in the Dominions that most was heard of it. The growth of nationality in those various Dominions, far from destroying the sentiment of loyalty to the Empire as a whole, was giving that sentiment more vigour. In proposing " The Health of the President," the Hon. T. Mackenzie said that the responsibilities and duties of that great voyage had been carried out to the satisfaction of all. and to-day they could say to captain and officers, "Well done." It was a matter of particular pleasure to him to hear the First Lord describe the gift of the battleship as a great act of far-seeing imagination. When Sir Joseph Ward submitted the proposal to the Cabinet it was approved within ten minutes of the suggestion being made. The manner in which the New Zealand had been received showed that the Government gauged accurately the loyal feelings of the community. The Social Side. The evening reception was perhaps the most brilliant function that the New Zealand colony has seen. Besides practically all the leading New Zealanders now in England, there wen many prominent figures in public life. Prince Louis of Battenburg, Admiral Sir E. Fremantle, General Sir R. S. Baden-Powell, Lord Glasgow, Lord Plunket, and a glittering collection of foreign Ministers and Attaches attended.

Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie received their guests at the entrance of the great hall, and Captain and Mrs. Halse-y also shook hands with everybody as they arrived. When the High Commissioner made his speech of welcome tiiere were on the platform with him Lord Plunket, Captain Halsey, Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., and, representing the Maori, the Rev. H. Parata and Mr. Pani Paora Chamberlin.

Mr. Mackenzie said : —" The purpose for which we are gathered together to-night is to say 'Welcome Home' to yon, Captain Halsey, and to your officers and crew. Of your work and the work of those associated with you we can say with absolute truth, 'Well done!' You have called at many ports and come into contact with many peoples. You have done much to bind together the interests of our people and to consolidate our Empire. Your tact, judgment, and courtesy have won for you golden opinions, and your officers, and men have left behind them a record of which the nation is proud. In the words of an English newspaper. 'You have sailed with a clean record, taking with you the regard of the whole community, a feeling of sound Imperialism, and a new sense of the greatness and reality of the Empire.' Of the social side of your travels, statistics have been given which show that you have had your names entered on the books of 150 clubs, you have taken part in some hundred official banquets and luncheons. (Laughter.) And you have ' tripped the light fantastic' at some 75 balls. In our country of New Zealand you have been welcomed by Briton and Maori. There is just one omission from all the reports that I have read in the English newspapers regarding the attention which was showered upon you in our cou-itry. We Are told that this scene occurred in the Bay of Islands, where the dusky Maori maidens gave an effusive demonstration of welcome to the sub-lieuten-ants, who blushed and hastily retreated. Not so, however, when similar attention was bestowed on Captain Halsey. Shall I say -as became an officer of his experience, enjoying the reputation which some captains do at times enjoy, he faced his fate bravely and with equanimity. And when Again the Maori maiden* renewed

their favours to the younger officers, ihey, stimulated by the noble example set by the captain, bore the ordeal unflinchingly. (Laughter.) Comparison With Drake. " Comparisons have been made and parallels drawn regarding the voyage now completed with those of some of the earlier circumnavigators. Halsey's voyage was a mission of peace and but there can be no doubt that one of the main factors behind that was the possession of force. With the individual, as with the nation, the man who is trained to fight, and can fight and give a good account of himself, will seldom be challenged. The question naturally springs to the mind of a thoughtful man: May there not now be someone of the Drake type, connected with a comparatively unknown Power, sailing the seas, who may hope to see in the future changes as far-reaching as those which have been wrought in the past, and to witness the gradual dissipation of those great territories now held by Britain, as Britain has witnessed the falling away of Spain's dependencies? Should such ever occur the fault will be entirely our own. (Hear, hear). Wo have succeeded to a glorious heritage. It is a sacred trust, and we cannot evade our obligations now, even if wo would. We must retain our Empire, not in order to be aggressive, but so that wo may be free. There are those who, even now, profess to see in the conditions of the Old Country causes which, if not corrected may end in the gradual decay and disintegration of our Empire. Will the study of the influences which led to the gradual decay of older civilisations not act as a lesson to us and as an incentive to preserve all that makes for increased stability? When Britain was menaced by a foreign Power the New Zealand Government met, and taking upon themselves the responsibility of the situation, without delaying to consult' either Parliament or people, bodly followed the course of offering one or two ships of the Dreadnought class as a supplement to the Imperial Navy. (Applause). Australia was not slow to follow suit with a fleet unit." The "Ward" Room. Captain Halsey, who had a remarkably cordial reception, observed that no words of his could thank them adequately for the warmth of the welcome they had given to him and his officers that night. H>* regarded that function as a fitting climax to the Empire tour which the New Zealand had made. During the two and ahalf months spent in the Dominion, they had a triumphal procession, touching at every port and anchorage it was possible for them to do. They had a great welcome at each place, and he was not going to draw any invidious comparisons. Everybody did his best to show them New Zealand's best. (Applause.) Captain Halsey mentioned that a Maori chief presented him with a costume, and remarked, " If you as chief of the New Zealand should ever take your ship into action, will you stand in your conningtowor and wear this?" (Laughter.) another good anecdote had reference to Sir Joseph Ward, whose portrait, was hanging in - the ship. One enthusiastic lady visitor was being shown round by a bluejacket, and in due time the portrait was pointed out to her. • They then crossed to the other side of the deck, where the bluejacket said, "This is the officers' —the wardroom." The lady replied, " Oh, how nice of the officers to call their" room after Sir Joseph Ward." (Laughter.) In conclusion the captain said: "We will always do our best to uphold the great traditions handed down to us, and all the more because we know that every eye in New Zealand is upon us." (Applause.)